Jim Boeheim continues to dig his hole deeper and deeper.
A recent story with ESPN saw the Syracuse Men’s Basketball head coach talking about his future and, perhaps more notably, the state of college basketball on the whole. As concepts like NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals grow in popularity in college sports, the 78-year Boeheim showed he wasn’t a fan of their use.
The coach took it a step way too far in explicitly saying that programs like Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and Miami all “bought” their teams, thanks in part to NIL deals. Woof, yeah, it’s not a great look:
“This is an awful place we’re in in college basketball,” Boeheim said. “Pittsburgh bought a team. OK, fine. My [big donor] talks about it, but he doesn’t give anyone any money. Nothing. Not one guy. Our guys make like $20,000. Wake Forest bought a team. Miami bought a team. … It’s like, ‘Really, this is where we are?’ That’s really where we are, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Does Boeheim have any citations to back up his disrespectful comments, or is he just upset that recruiting is now potentially more challenging?
This was how Wake Forest head coach Steve Forbes responded to Boeheim’s out-of-line comments:
Just in: Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes tells CBS Sports about Jim Boeheim claiming Wake Forest "bought a team:
"He's wrong. He's one thousand percent wrong. I don't have one player on my team that got NIL to come here. That's a fact. I've NEVER had a player come here for NIL."
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) February 5, 2023
In the wake of Boeheim drawing heaps of criticism for his thoughts, the coach would issue a statement on Monday morning. It was both not an apology and Boeheim trying (emphasis: trying) to meekly walk back what he said:
Jim Boeheim has released a statement. pic.twitter.com/nNqSvkVyAS
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 6, 2023
Imply? There was no implication there! Boeheim’s were, again, explicit! What is he trying to pull here? The cat’s already out of the bag.
This is a situation where Boeheim might only find himself coming under more fire as time goes on. For example, ACC coaches do a media call every Monday. In other words, stay tuned.
College basketball fans ripped Jim Boeheim's weak statement about his "bought" comments
“It was not my intention to imply Pitt, Wake Forest and Miami bought their current teams when I said exactly that Pitt, Wake Forest and Miami bought their teams….” https://t.co/9ooN1r1mnO pic.twitter.com/MGuSliumtm
— Paul Zeise (@PaulZeise) February 6, 2023
Cowering Boeheim is a unique Boeheim we don't often see. https://t.co/WGUKiymefI
— Chris Peak (@PantherLair) February 6, 2023
Whatever. Damage Done https://t.co/73kiOdho8p
— Bryan DeNovellis (@bryandeno) February 6, 2023
Too late, pal. We know how you really feel. https://t.co/bjPbbIKD0V
— Matt Koll (@MKoll15) February 6, 2023
ehhhh I’m not… buying… it. https://t.co/pV4fyswZiW
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) February 6, 2023
Whatever https://t.co/AcX0meXpMh
— Colin Dunlap (@colin_dunlap) February 6, 2023
“Pittsburgh bought a team.” —Jim Boeheim https://t.co/qmPKbqpTKc
— Amanda Godsey (@AmandaFGodsey) February 5, 2023
… as there’s a deep drive to left off the bat of Castellanos and Syracuse leads https://t.co/FHtAfSGh4v
— Tab Bamford (@The1Tab) February 6, 2023
lol he clearly was implying otherwise https://t.co/OHHCv2tU7W
— John (@JGor492) February 6, 2023
https://t.co/Szn7dKGvOs pic.twitter.com/x9DZDgBMNH
— Vic Burner Account (@VicBurnerAcct) February 6, 2023
These coaches who do not want to adapt need to go, he clearly doesn’t have the kids best interest in mind @Cuse_MBB https://t.co/yrl2CEHzXr
— Keshawn Gibbs (@Keshawngibbs15) February 6, 2023
